Ben Silverman 1930-2019

Life is Bountiful





On Monday, the world lost a man of many facets whose smile could light up a room and

who came to know God in new and wondrous ways in the last ten years. Ben Silverman,

89, of Sun Lakes, Arizona, was called to heaven after a short bout with an ailing heart.


Ben was born in Depression-era Washington, DC, to Russian immigrant parents, Harry

and Frances Silverman. His poor, yet colorful, childhood was marked by the pranks and

naughtiness of boys left to their own devices -- all of which made great stories to tell his

grandkids!

An early interest in electronics and repairing anything mechanical led to an engineering

degree from Capitol Radio Engineering Institute in 1951. He repaired those new-fangled

televisions and used his expertise as a radio engineer in the U.S. Naval reserve, where he

served for nine years. A promising career in electronics was cut short by the sad, early

passing of his father, after which Ben, and his brother Dave, took over the family

business.

These two astute businessmen, each with his own set of skills, worked together for over

40 years to build the business, raise their families and send all of their children to college,

the first generation of their family in America to do so. A side highlight in his working

career were the years spent as a developer of homes. Ben loved the building business; it

appealed to his engineer-brain!

Ben married Pauline Poms in 1952. Their son, Brad Neil, was born in 1953 and a

daughter, Helene Faye, followed in 1957. Although Ben worked long hours six days a

week, he reserved Sundays for family time and never missed. One of these Sunday

outings led Ben to find a country getaway cottage for the family in rural Southern

Maryland, fronting the lower Potomac River where it enters the Chesapeake Bay. It

became a refuge for him from the bustle of business, a place to relax, for woodworking

and beautification projects, to take out the 14-foot runabout boat for fishing and teaching

the kids and their mom to waterski, and of course, to eat hard-shell crabs all afternoon on

the screened-in porch.

But Ben truly felt he’d come home when he and Pauline retired to Arizona in 1993. He

loved everything about living here. Sadly, but uncomplainingly, Ben took care of Pauline

when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1997. She blessedly passed away in 2005.


When Ben met his beloved companion and soulmate of the last 10 years, Delphine

Thomas, he never seemed happier. They laughed together, traveled together and found

love to last the ages. What a gift.


His glass was always half full, he was always looking forward to the next activity in life.

He was an amazing dancer who came of age in the Big Band era. And, he danced with joy

at the weddings of three of his grandchildren! Ben was independent and filled with the

American spirit, as only the son of immigrants can be. He loved his family, his country,

his Del. Rest well, Ben, the world will miss your smile.


Ben is survived by Delphine Thomas, daughter Helene (Michael) Belisle, daughter-in-law

Patti Silverman, granddaughter Brandi (Jason) Byers, grandsons Sean and Derek

Belisle, grandson Brett (Janelle) Silverman, granddaughter Samantha Belisle, and four

great grandchildren (Raif and Dylan Byers and Colton and Juliet Silverman).



A service will be held graveside at Valley of the Sun cemetery on Monday, November 18

at 10:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in honor of Ben's son, Brad, to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation: https://themmrf.org/ or call 203-229-0464.

To plant a tree in memory of Ben Silverman, please visit our Tribute Store.

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